Kamkwalala named acting Chief Elections Officer at Malawi Electoral Commission

Malawi’s electoral body has moved swiftly to fill a leadership void, appointing Andrew Kamkwalala as Acting Chief Elections Officer, just weeks after his predecessor Andrew Mpesi dramatically resigned from the top post.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) confirmed the appointment in a statement signed by Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, following Mpesi’s resignation from the position on 21 August 2026.

Kamkwalala steps up from his role as Deputy Chief Elections Officer responsible for finance and administration, a position he has held since joining the commission back in 2022, giving him deep institutional knowledge as he takes the reins during this critical transition.

Justice Mtalimanja has now called on stakeholders across the political and civic spectrum to rally behind Kamkwalala and offer him their full support, as the electoral body works urgently behind the scenes to permanently fill the vacant top position.

The appointment comes at a sensitive time for MEC, which is already grappling with mounting internal pressures ahead of crucial by-elections and the looming 2030 general election.